Full Breakdown
25th Anniversary of September 11: New Identifications, Memorial Exhibits, and Community Tributes
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Commemorations
The United States marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with a series of remembrance activities that combined personal testimony, new forensic technology, and public exhibitions. A New York Jets delegation—including Chairman Woody Johnson, Vice Chairman Christopher Johnson, and players such as quarterback Geno Smith and linebacker Demario Davis—visited the 9/11 Memorial & Museum to tour the reflecting pools and an exhibit on the lasting impact of the attacks. St. Paul’s Chapel, a historic church that served as a relief center after the attacks, opened the “Ever Present” exhibition, featuring a suspended string of 2,977 origami cranes—one for each person killed. A group of 42 runners embarked on a six-day trek from the Shanksville crash site in Pennsylvania to Ground Zero, raising funds for the Tunnel to Towers charity.
Background & Context
On September 11, 2001, two hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center’s North and South Towers, leading to the collapse of both structures. Nearly 3,000 people died, and the event reshaped U.S. security policy and collective memory. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum now inscribes the names of 2,983 victims of the 2001 and 1993 attacks on bronze parapets surrounding two reflecting pools.
Data & Statistics
- 60 % of the 2,753 victims whose remains were recovered from the World Trade Center have been identified through forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG).
- The city recently announced the identification of the 1,654th victim using FIGG.
- More than 1,000 victims in New York remain unidentified, according to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
- The “Ever Present” installation displays 2,977 paper cranes, matching the total death toll from the 2001 attacks.
Official Statements & Responses
Officials highlighted the role of FIGG in providing answers to families still awaiting closure. Rev. Phillip A. Jackson, rector of Trinity Church’s St. Paul’s Chapel, noted the significance of community remembrance.
On-the-Ground Reports
James Dowdell, whose father Lieutenant Kevin Dowdell died while responding to the South Tower, recounted the chaotic dispatches that sent his crew from Queens to the collapsing towers.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I've spent essentially my entire life knowing my father died, and learning to live with the fact that we never recovered him,” — Juliette Scauso
- “There is real promise in using this approach,” — Angela Soler, director of forensic anthropology in the city's medical examiner office
- “My wife and I have come here a couple times just in our years in New York, and it's really heavy,” — Harrison Phillips
- “My father, he was working out in Queens, when the North Tower was hit [at 8:46 a.m.],” — James Dowdell
- “It means a lot to me, and I'm not a crier. It gets to me every 9/11 when we get up there,” — Eric Danesi
What’s Next
The medical examiner’s office plans to expand FIGG testing to additional remains, aiming to raise the identification rate beyond the current 60 %. On the anniversary, St. Paul’s Chapel will ring its “Bell of Hope” at 8:46 a.m.—the moment the first plane struck the North Tower—and conduct a three-hour reading of all victims’ names, followed by an evening concert. The Jets’ visit, the chapel exhibition, and the runners’ fundraiser together illustrate the ongoing effort to honor the victims and support families 25 years after the attacks.
